Chapter 12 - Evolution Of Humans & Our Influence on Evolution

Question 1

Artificial Insemination and Embryo transfer:

consequences on evolution

Answer 1

AI: Male individuals sperm is used to inseminate multiple eggs
Embryo transfer: Female individual provides many eggs to be fertilised
- Reduces genetic diversity
- Greater contribution of alleles by single individual than would naturally occur

Question 2

Stem cells and somatic gene therapy:

Consequences on evolution

Answer 2

Organism survives and is able to reproduce when it otherwise would have died.
Unfavourable genes are passed along

Question 3

Cloning consequences on evolution

Answer 3

Increase genetic representation of an individual in a population
Reduction of genetic diversity within population

Question 4

Genetic Engineering, concequences on evolution

Answer 4

Artificially inserting genes (often from another species) into an organism where that trait would not have naturally occurred.

Question 5

Artificial selection consequences on evolution:

Answer 5

Breeding individuals who have desired characteristics

• Genetic variability is reduced
• Increases amount of specific alleles within the population

Question 6

Biological Evolution Vs Cultural Evolution Vs Technological Evolution

Answer 6

Biological:
Occurs naturally through genetic variation and reproduction and involves the transfer of genes from one generation to the next.
Cultural:
Changes in customs, ideas and information
Eg.) Religion, Art, Music ect..
Technological Evolution
Change in technology over time that gives humans greater control over their environment

Question 7

Interrelationship between biological and cultural evolution.

Answer 7

Increased brain size and development allowed for the development of complex and sophisticated abstract thought.
Development of language allowed these complex ideas to be passed down

Question 8

Interrelationship of technological and cultural evolution

Answer 8

Development of technology which allowed for agricultural societies, freed up society to develop culture.
Improved communication technology increases the speed and global spread of information

Question 9

Interrelationship of biological and technological evolution

Answer 9

• opposable thumb allowed for precision grip and the subsequent creation of tools.
• Greater brain development allows for more complex thought and ability to problem solve through the development of technology.
• Gene technology can change allele frequencies in a gene pool

Question 10

Primates & characteristics

Answer 10

Order classification which includes all monkeys, apes, and closer relatives. Characteristics include:
Nails instead of claws
Large brain size relative to body
Forward facing eyes
semi-opposable thumbs
5 digit hands and feet
Extended parental care & fewer offspring

Question 11

Hominoids & characteristics

Answer 11

Includes all apes and no monkeys
Characteristics:
No tail
Relatively long arms and mobile shoulder joints
Semi/fully erect
larger brain

Question 12

Hominids & characteristics

Answer 12

Include great apes:
characteristics:
Operate in groups
More pronounced sexual dimorphism

Question 13

Hominins & characteristics

Answer 13

All human species and their close bipedal relatives
Homo sapiens (only living), Homo genus, Australopithicus
Characteristics: More fully developed cerebral cortex

Question 14

Bipedal evolutionary traits:

Answer 14

Foramen magnum at base of skull (rather than at rear) : better supports head in upright stance and ability to scan horizon.
S Shaped Spine: Better weight distribution and balance when standing
Compact Pelvis: Bowl shaped, supports weight and abdominal organs
Arched foot: Keeps balance, allows for running upright
Smaller arms to legs ratio: Increased efficiency when travelling long distances.
Angled femur: Supports body weight and allows for bipedal locomotion
Buttress on knee bone: restrict sideways movement of bone and support more weight

Question 15

New world monkey characteristics

Answer 15

Flat nose
Prehensile tail
South America

Question 16

Old world monkeys characteristics

Answer 16

Downward nose and nostrils

non-prehensile tail

Question 17

Australopithecus:

Answer 17

Found in Africa
3-4 million years old
Two types;
Graciles and Robust

Question 18

Australopithecus Robustus & Boseii

Answer 18

Both "Robust" Australopithecus which died out.
Flat face.
Relatively large physically.
Relatively large and robust jaw.
Massive molars
sagital crest
large brow ridges

Question 19

Life style Australopithecus:

Answer 19

Ate more tough vegetable matter

Both bipedal and tree climbing

Question 20

Homo Habilus Vs Homo Rudolfenis

Answer 20

Both approx 2 million years old
Habilus evolved to humans
Habilus ate meat and is first known tool maker
Rudolfensis died out 
Rudolfensis had larger brain

Question 21

Homo Erectus:

Answer 21

Complex tool use & use of fire
fully bippedal
first hominin to leave Africa to Europe and Asia

Question 22

Homo Neanderthalis

Answer 22

150,000 - 25,000 years old
Large hominin brain, but majority not for complex thinking
Buried dead (cultural evolution)
Lived in cave and man made shelters
were out competed by homosapiens

Question 23

Morphological strends Australopithicus—> Homo Sapian

Answer 23

Hair reduction
opposable thumbs - precise grip
Greater endurance
Smaller molars
Shortened jaw
reduced brow ridge
Forward pointing big toe

Question 24

Cultural Evolution of humans

Answer 24

Increasing brain size over time
Developed language allowing us to communicate and pass down ideas
Enabled: co-operative hunting,
Resulted in burial complex and religious beliefs

Question 25

Out of Africa evolutionary hypothesis

Answer 25

Homo Erectus and other archaic humans leave Africa in waves
However Homo - Sapiens evolved in Africa before migrating out 100,000 years ago replacing existing archaic population without interbreeding

Question 26

Out of Africa Predictions and evidence (5)

Answer 26

• Transitional fossils of humans only found in Africa: not true but explained by migrations of transitional species out of Africa
• Modern traits first appear in Africa and spread across the world: True
• Modern & Archaic populations should overlap at points when Homo Sapiens migrate out of Africa into archaic populations: True
• Most genetic diversity in human species should be found in Africa where species has existed the longest: True, supported by mitochondrial DNA
• Homo Sapiens have little genetic diversity as species is young

Question 27

Multi-regional model of evolution hypothesis

Answer 27

Homo Erectus or other archaic hominin migrated out of African and dispersed throughout the world. Populations remain in genetic contact, with gene flow between populations, and whole species evolved to Homo- Sapiens together. However limited gene flow also allowed for development of unique racial traits to develop.

Question 28

Multi regional evolution predictions and evidence (4)

Answer 28

• Transitional fossils found across all geographic regions: True
• Modern human traits should appear somewhat simultaneously around the world: False
• variation within humans should be equal across all populations as they have been evolving together: False, contradicted by mitochondrial DNA
• Human species should have high genetic diversity as populations have had a long time to accumulate genetic differences.

Question 29

evolutionary advantage of large braincase

Answer 29

large braincase = large brain

allows for more complex thought and problem solving

Question 30

evolutionary advantage of reduced brow ridges

Answer 30

Reduced brow ridges that support the large jaws for a tough vegetarian diet. Reduced consumption of vegetable matter means large brow ridges not needed.

Question 31

evolutionary advantage of less hair

Answer 31

improved cooling and heat loss

reduced number parasites in hair

Question 32

evolutionary advantage of eating meat

Answer 32

A meat based diet, which is high in protein and fat, provides plenty of energy which is needed
for the development of complex central nervous system.

Question 33

Australopithecus Afarensius and Africanus

Answer 33

Both “Gracile” Australopithecus which evolved into humans.
more slender
reduced brow ridges (compared to robustus)

Question 34

Homo Heildelburgensis

Answer 34

Brow ridges reduced, and sloping forehead